My Janelle Status - Week Ending # 39

Good Evening, Ken here checking in for Janelle. Today is Sunday April 29th.

 I went back and counted the weeks since Monday August 1st.  Thus today is the end of week# 39 as mentioned in the blog title.  

I will of course provide you an update at the end of this entry with how things are going for us as far as the journey. Before we get to that.....

The abundance of love and general friendships we have continues to just overwhelm both of us.  I am sure you can imagine that our emotions are a bit sensitive these days, tears can come pretty easy.  Acts of compassion and concern for us bring them on quickly, thus we have had lots of tears this week.

Last week, I mentioned to you that I had kind of become addicted to this blog stuff, taking lots of pictures to include on the next post.  I really failed at this early in week and for the numerous people who came by to visit, my apologies as I do want to capture every Janelle Smile and my mind just seems to be wandering a bit right now.  We have had many visitors, many cards, many telephone calls and yes flowers, food / goodies; some hand delivered during visits, some just kind of being left on the front porch or in a strategic spot in the garage where I could not miss it.  As a general thank you...THANK YOU Sharon Baptist Church & Weekday School Staff, also current and past parents of kids at the school, Cameron Wood's neighborhood friends, Steele Creek Church of Charlotte friends....I think that covers the face to face visits of the week.  Visits are still OK, not sure if we will be able to continue however if you are local to the area, you can certainly call me anytime if you would like to come by and we can try and figure it out.  I do ask that we try and stay away from unannounced visits as there are times that would really not be good for a visit.

So, just a few pictures if you will be so kind to stay with me....

Earlier this week, somebody must have been looking through some of my facebook profile pictures and liked this one because they shared it and it kind of took on a life of its own with lots of comments.  Best I can remember, this was taken October 2010 timeframe when the school was doing their class pictures...

Also here is one from the past.  My brother-in-law posted this one on FB, this was 2004 when the entire family went on an Alaskan cruise.  His tag line said something to the effect of spending time with his two most favorite ladies...that would be Mom and Sister...by the way Bob's efforts to raise money for the Brain Tumor Awareness walk this summer that I mentioned last weekend....TEAM JANELLE has raised the most funds to date.

Friday, I finally got my act together a bit more with pictures.  One of our long term neighborhood friends called me, time was right, she jumped in her car and drove over to say hello.  Great seeing you Cathy...

Also on Friday, our other Brittany stopped by to show us the most recent addition to her wardrobe. Brittany has finished up her Master's degree at Queens University, she graduates this coming weekend, has unofficially accepted a new position and it is in town where we want her to stay.  We are very proud of this lady, she is a go getter and she has gone and got it!

And....besides just having great friends who live around us, we are also blessed to have a great friend who lives around us and happens to be a nurse.  We have not had to call on her nursing duties too much but it is a good resource to have, somebody I can talk to about things, somebody who understands, can provide me counsel, direction.  She is also just such a nice lady.  Thanks for stopping by and checking on me and Janelle Cassie....

As I told you last Sunday, we did make the decision to get Hospice involved this week.  Definitely not a highlight of my week however these people are VERY GOOD.  There involvement at the current time is really just going to be a couple of times a week, stopping by, making sure we have whatever we need from a medicine standpoint, provide me counsel as needed on things I can/should be doing, etc.  Simple one, utensils have become kind of an issue to use, thus they suggested I start preparing items that don't require utensils.  Seems pretty obvious but it was not to me.  We just kept struggling trying to get forks / spoons from plate to mouth.  Now we are eating lots of finger food type of things that don't require me to even put out utensils so we don't have to have constant reminders that utensils don't work and I don't have to sit and feed Janelle (which would not go over very well).

Health wise, I would say Janelle is a bit weaker, mind perhaps not quite as clear as a week ago but we are still having a lot of good times, laughing, not talking about gloom and doom things that we can't control so based on where we are at, we are doing OK.

Britt arrived today for a few days.  She had a big weekend, but this coming week her work is such that she can do it remotely for a few days so she is here and that is so great to have her with me to assist......and to her husband Kenneth....Happy Birthday Tomorrow (April 30th), thank you for sharing your wife with us this weekend.  Britt will be hand delivering your gift as i don't quite have all of this mailing gift thing figured out like Janelle does.  Also, dinner on me sometime later this week when Britt gets back home.

Ok friends, thank you for staying with me.  My hope is that for many weeks to come, the Janelle health status portion of this blog will be brief.  Brief will be a good thing becasue that will mean everything is about the same.  We still covet your prayers, they (& YOU) mean a lot to us.

Ken (& Janelle) Hayes

Comments

[susie p]

thanks for the update and your doing great with the blog.glad to read there is laughter and that britt will be with you for a few days!finger foods are easy...chicken fingers,fish sticks, french fries,hot dogs,ribs,pop tarts,nachos,cheese sticks and of course chocolate!!!!!love hugs and many prayers!!send a message if i can do anything!

[Cindy K]

Thank you for providing the update. My prayers for you all continue ....

Blessings,
Cindy K

[Karin]

Praying for you all. You and your journey have been a blessing to so many people. Take Care.

[nancy c dunnagan]

Ken, Thank you so much for keeping us all up to date! You have a talent with this blogging thing!! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!

[Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft]

Thank you so much for the update, Ken! I keep checking in to see how Janelle is doing. You don't know me, but I was the first follower of Janelle's blog. I started coming here to see Janelle's beautiful cards, but stayed for HER. She is such a beautiful person, inside and out. I was able to meet her at CHA in Orlando and I am so grateful for that. While I was cleaning out my craft room yesterday, I found a card that Janelle sent to me for my Birthday one year. I put it out on my desk to remind me of her. You guys are such great people, and an ispiration to me. Thank you again for the update.

Katy

[Maureen]

Ken, thank you so much for keeping us close though we are so far apart. You are becoming quite the blogging expert! You and Janelle have been on my mind constantly this week and I have hoped it has been filled with laughter as much as possible...so thank you for letting us know. I will pray this week will be the same :) Hugs to you both :)

[Joyce Mehrberg]

Hello Ken. You are a wonderful blogger, and I do so appreciate your updates. I really love the old pictures, as it gives me some insight into Janelle before she got sick, and before I was lucky enough to know her. As usual, I am sending you healing thoughts and hugs from San Diego.

[Courtney]

It was great seeing you on Thursday! Sending lots of love your way!

[janis]

love you both, and thinking/praying for you throughout each day... janis

[Jan Frost]

I've looked all weekend for the this update...of which you are very good at! Thank you, Ken, for keeping all of us close and informed so that we can pray and love both of you. Janelle has had such an impact on so many...many that she has never even met. What an amazing and wonderful wife you have! She is so precious. I'm so encouraged in reading that your days together are filled with peace, laughter and special moments, such a blessing from the Lord. Let His Spirit just flow over you. Hugs to you both.
Jan

[Lori Thomas]

Thank you for the update, Ken. Enjoy your this time with your girls!

[Goodly Creations (Volcano)]

Aloha and mahalo for keeping us all updated on your journey. Many thoughts and prayers are coming your way from HI. Enjoy this time with Janelle and Britt. . . time is always special with family. . . take care and know many are praying for you and your family! Enjoy the laughs too! Peace to you all. . .

[Vicky]

My heart goes out to you all and my prayers continue.

[Denise Bryant]

I've never left a note here before, but have bookmarked this blog ages ago because I so enjoyed Janelle's creations. Just wanted to say that I'm keeping you both in my thoughts. DeniseB

[eleftheria]

Thank you Ken for the update.I have been waiting so anxiously.I m praying every day.Please keep posting photos, i love her smile.It s good you had Britt with you.It must be difficult for her too.
Until next time, take care.I love you both

[Marybeth L.]

Thank you for sharing and the update. I hope you don't mind but I saved the first picture of you and Janelle, it's such a happy one with her beautiful smile. I am happy Britt is able to be with you , very nice of Kennieth to share her. Continued prayers for you all. Big hugs from a longtime blog friend!

[Armando Cortez]

Continued prayers for healing and well being. Yours as well as Janelle's!

[Jaki]

Gorgeous photos, the recent ones and the older ones, Janelle's gorgeous smile shines through in all of them!
Thankyou again Ken for keeping in touch with us all out here, we all appreciate it :)
Love, hugs and prayers to you and Janelle.
J.xx

[SueB]

Like everyone else, I'm always very appreciative of your updates. Love that first photo of you two. Glad to hear that love is still being showered upon you two. It's good that Britt is there to help for a few days. I'm so glad Janelle has you. You are a wonderful husband. Prayers continue each day. Love and hugs to both of you.

[Lynn]

Ken, so glad Britt is home and that you continue to be blessed by dear friends and family. Sending you lots of love and prayers from Cincinnati.

[Lou]

Thank you for the update Ken.
Although I only 'know' Janelle as an online friend (I am half way around the world in Australia), I feel a strong connection with you guys through your blogging. I love the photos :)
Praying for you all
xox
Lou

[Tricia T]

Thanks for the update, Ken. The Lord keeps bringing Janelle and you to mind often during the week and I pray for you both when He does. What a special impact you both have had on so many of our lives. Praise the Lord for you both!

Grace and peace for the week...

Tricia

[Mindy]

Love all of the beautiful pictures. Janelle, your smile lights up a room - can definitely see where your daughter's stunning smile comes from! Hugs and prayers coming your way!

[Brenda R]

Ken,
Thank you for writing in Janelle's blog again this week. You are doing a GREAT job of blogging. Love the picture of you two from Fall 2010. Janelle, I made a habit of seeing your cards when you posted regularly, but I also really appreciated the scriptures that you posted and talked about. I will pray that God continues to bless you both.

[Karen Johnson]

Thanks so much for your updates Ken. It has been many years since we have seen you and Janelle, but through all of this, the Lord brings you to our minds many times through the day and night. We are praying for sweet, precious Janelle, you and your family and Jessie and Bob. You are all very special to us. Thanks too for the great pictures.
Love and prayers
Chuck and Karen